Ralph Lauren quietly shuttered its two-year-old 20,000-square-foot store last week. Other brands are expected to close boutiques in a city that has lost its luster for cash-rich mainland Chinese tourists.

FIRST LOOK: Though People was the only weekly to put Halle Berry on its cover after the Academy Award-winning star revealed last week that she’s pregnant, C magazine was the first to shoot her after the announcement. The two-year-old lifestyle magazine, based in Santa Monica, Calif., photographed the actress at her Malibu home on Friday for its November cover. “It was good timing,” admitted Jennifer Smith Hale, C’s founder and editorial director. Berry was shot on the beach wearing fall dresses by Jean Paul Gaultier and Pucci. Hale said Berry “seemed to be just ecstatic.”

But the news is really the photo, not the accompanying article: gossip junkies looking for an exhaustive account of her pregnancy will be disappointed. In an interview conducted Monday, Berry spent more time talking about her new film with Benicio Del Toro, “Things We Lost in the Fire,” than about her pending motherhood.

Meanwhile, C’s October issue will feature another pregnant actress — Naomi Watts. Though Watts gave birth nearly two months ago, the actress was shot for the September issue of Jane before Condé Nast folded the title in July. Jane’s August issue was its last, and C bought the Watts images from photographer Tesh. Luckily, the story still appeared somewhat timely — the shots are from the chest up, and the interview was conducted several weeks after Watts gave birth. — Stephanie D. Smith

DASHING WORDS: After selling his stake in his apparel company, Rocawear, Damon Dash had to find something to keep him busy besides lending a hand to wife Rachel Roy’s line. Now, the entrepreneur has taken to journalism. Dash will pen a column in the business section of the daily giveaway newspaper Metro; his first was published Wednesday and will continue to appear the first Wednesday of every month. But if you’re going to read his column, please call him Dame. “That is how my friends address me,” he writes, “and being that I only let my friends in on my personal thoughts, opinions and overall point of view on life, I would have to consider anyone who is taking the time to read this as a friend.” Dame’s first business lesson? Stay true to the game. He says he “was successful selling products that are real and relevant to me, which I think means I am authentic.” His latest venture is his ownership of the American rights to sneaker line Pro-Keds, “which is the sneaker I wore as a kid.” — S.D.S.

SIGNING ON: Sarah Cristobal has been named as senior Web editor of Harper’s Bazaar online. Cristobal will take over the daily programming, video creative development and continuing rollout of new interactive features on the site. Cristobal joins from Style.com, where she was associate editor. She begins Sept. 24. — S.D.S.

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@rebeccaminkoff is bringing self-checkout to high fashion: The brand has partnered with @queuehop to bring its customers self-checkout options, beginning this holiday season at its SoHo store. (📷: @aurorarosephoto)